Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB3654

LRB104 19971 RPS 33422 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3654

Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

235 ILCS 5/7-1	from Ch. 43, par. 145
235 ILCS 5/7-6	from Ch. 43, par. 150

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Requires an applicant for a retail license to provide the applicant's primary and supplementary email address to which all license-related notices may be served. Provides that certain licenses shall not be revoked or suspended except after a hearing by the State commission with reasonable notice to the licensee served by electronic or other reasonable means (instead of by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested) at least 10 days prior to the hearings at the last known place of business of the licensee or to the licensee's primary or supplemental email address and after an opportunity to appear and defend.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning liquor.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Liquor Control Act of 1934 is amended by changing Sections 7-1 and 7-6 as follows:

(235 ILCS 5/7-1) (from Ch. 43, par. 145)

Sec. 7-1. An applicant for a retail license from the State Commission shall submit to the State Commission an application in writing under oath stating:

(1) The applicant's name and mailing address;

(2) The name and address of the applicant's business;

(3) If applicable, the date of the filing of the "assumed name" of the business with the County Clerk;

(4) In case of a copartnership, the date of the formation of the partnership; in the case of an Illinois corporation, the date of its incorporation; or in the case of a foreign corporation, the State where it was incorporated and the date of its becoming qualified under the Business Corporation Act of 1983 to transact business in the State of Illinois;

(5) The number, the date of issuance and the date of expiration of the applicant's current local retail liquor license;

(6) The name of the city, village, or county that issued the local retail liquor license;

(7) The name and address of the landlord if the premises are leased;

(8) The date of the applicant's first request for a State liquor license and whether it was granted, denied or withdrawn;

(9) The address of the applicant when the first application for a State liquor license was made;

(10) The applicant's current State liquor license number;

(11) The date the applicant began liquor sales at his place of business;

(12) The address of the applicant's warehouse if he warehouses liquor;

(13) The applicant's Retailers' Occupation Tax (ROT) Registration Number;

(14) The applicant's document locator number on his Federal Special Tax Stamp;

(15) Whether the applicant is delinquent in the payment of the Retailers' Occupation Tax (Sales Tax), and if so, the reasons therefor;

(16) Whether the applicant is delinquent under the cash beer law, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(17) In the case of a retailer, whether he is delinquent under the 30-day credit law, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(18) In the case of a distributor, whether he is delinquent under the 15-day credit law, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(19) Whether the applicant has made an application for a liquor license which has been denied, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(20) Whether the applicant has ever had any previous liquor license suspended or revoked, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(21) Whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a gambling offense or felony, and if so, the particulars thereof;

(22) Whether the applicant possesses a current Federal Wagering Stamp, and if so, the reasons therefor;

(23) Whether the applicant, or any other person, directly in his place of business is a public official, and if so, the particulars thereof;

(24) The applicant's name, sex, date of birth, social security number, position and percentage of ownership in the business; and the name, sex, date of birth, social security number, position and percentage of ownership in the business of every sole owner, partner, corporate officer, director, manager and any person who owns 5% or more of the shares of the applicant business entity or parent corporations of the applicant business entity; and

(25) That he has not received or borrowed money or anything else of value, and that he will not receive or borrow money or anything else of value (other than merchandising credit in the ordinary course of business for a period not to exceed 90 days as herein expressly permitted under Section 6-5 hereof), directly or indirectly, from any manufacturer, importing distributor or distributor or from any representative of any such manufacturer, importing distributor or distributor, nor be a party in any way, directly or indirectly, to any violation by a manufacturer, distributor or importing distributor of Section 6-6 of this Act; and .

(26) The applicant's primary and supplementary electronic mail addresses to which all license-related notices may be served.

In addition to any other requirement of this Section, an applicant for a special use permit license and a special event retailer's license shall also submit (A) proof satisfactory to the Commission that the applicant has a resale number issued under Section 2c of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act or that the applicant is registered under Section 2a of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, (B) proof satisfactory to the Commission that the applicant has a current, valid exemption identification number issued under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and a certification to the Commission that the purchase of alcoholic liquors will be a tax-exempt purchase, or (C) a statement that the applicant is not registered under Section 2a of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, does not hold a resale number under Section 2c of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and does not hold an exemption number under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. The applicant shall also submit proof of adequate dram shop insurance for the special event prior to being issued a license.

In addition to the foregoing information, such application shall contain such other and further information as the State Commission and the local commission may, by rule or regulation not inconsistent with law, prescribe.

If the applicant reports a felony conviction as required under paragraph (21) of this Section, such conviction may be considered by the Commission in accordance with Section 6-2.5 of this Act in determining qualifications for licensing, but shall not operate as a bar to licensing.

If said application is made in behalf of a partnership, firm, association, club or corporation, then the same shall be signed by one member of such partnership or the president or secretary of such corporation or an authorized agent of said partnership or corporation.

All other applications shall be on forms prescribed by the State Commission, and which may exclude any of the above requirements which the State Commission rules to be inapplicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-286, eff. 1-1-18.)

(235 ILCS 5/7-6) (from Ch. 43, par. 150)

Sec. 7-6. All proceedings for the revocation or suspension of licenses of manufacturers, distributors, importing distributors, non-resident dealers, foreign importers, non-beverage users, railroads, airplanes and boats shall be before the State Commission. All such proceedings and all proceedings for the revocation or suspension of a retailer's license before the State commission shall be in accordance with rules and regulations established by it not inconsistent with law. However, no such license shall be so revoked or suspended except after a hearing by the State commission with reasonable notice to the licensee served by electronic or other reasonable means registered or certified mail with return receipt requested at least 10 days prior to the hearings at the last known place of business of the licensee or to the licensee's primary or supplemental email address and after an opportunity to appear and defend. Such notice shall specify the time and place of the hearing, the nature of the charges, the specific provisions of the Act and rules violated, and the specific facts supporting the charges or violation. The findings of the Commission shall be predicated upon competent evidence. The revocation of a local license shall automatically result in the revocation of a State license. Upon notification by the Illinois Department of Revenue, the State Commission, in accordance with Section 3-12, may refuse the issuance or renewal of a license, fine a licensee, or suspend or revoke any license issued by the State Commission if the licensee or license applicant has violated the provisions of Section 3 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. All procedures for the suspension or revocation of a license, as enumerated above, are applicable to the levying of fines for violations of this Act or any rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)